J.B.'s Journal: Wood carving

"The more you carve the better you get, the better you get the more fun it is, it's easier," said Wood carver James Tramel.The East Texas Wood Carver's Club gathers monthly for a whittling session."A lot of times you make the carving the size of the piece of wood you have," he said.James Tramel learned carving in Boy Scouts."I think the fun of carving, let your mind relax, you don't have to think of anything in particular, other than each cut your making,"James said.Patience is one of the most important tools."My life wouldn't be complete without carving," said Wood carver Yvette Jirka said. "It isn't fun if you don't have sharp tools, you'll cut yourself, tools will break,try to use them likecrowbars instead of knives," she said.Sometimes their work is personal."That's a history cane, her parents, our dog, places we lived since we remarried, handle is a chicken, had a pet chicken," James said.Yvette Jirka (Jur-kuh) has picked out the wood for her next piece."It isn't the face of Jesus be hard, it's the concept of carving Jesus, awesome task, got to do a good job with that," Yvette said.Carvingwith a group of professionals like this can be intimidating, How am I doing?That's whittling, not carving, we carve, you whittle, let me get this band-aidready your going to needit. Band-aid?These artists can make just about anything out of wood;bringing their subject to life in these very realistic and intricate carvings."I've sold some, given some away, if you figure out the money I made about 13 cents an hour," James said.An art form you continue to perfect with each cut."Last piece you worked on that's where you were still learning no matter how many years you've been carving," James said.The East Texas Wood Carver's Club would enjoy young people coming to their monthly meeting in Longview to learn the craft. For more information, click on the hot button.